BY DOMINIK MOSUR

EDITOR

Students in the Bayview/Hunter’s Point neighborhood will lose access to open space next year if Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s plan to close Candlestick Point State Recreation Area along with 47 other parks is approved.

Literacy for Environmental Justice, an education non-profit serving the Bayview community, is one group opposing Candlestick’s closure.

After signing their petition I couldn’t help but imagine the outcry from Pacific Heights and Marina District residents if the federal government announced the Presidio was being shut down to save a few hundred thousand dollars per year.

As California’s population surges toward 40 million we continue to build more houses, roads and shopping centers.

Our sense of freedom diminishes with every open space that is fenced in while the odds for survival of unique animal and plant species decrease.

Our governor is eerily out of touch to propose closing a park in an urban zone where open space is so hard to find, where so many lack access to a respite from the stress of city life.

Limiting access to Candlestick Point will remove it from the public’s consciousness and affect future plans for the site. Frequent visitors familiar with the park will not stand by idly while a piece of their commons falls to the bulldozers, an ever present threat for open space in the city.

Will another home for wildlife and a place to contemplate the quite perfection of nature, be enveloped by asphalt and concrete?

By Jen Houghton
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

I am obsessed with MySpace. For my age, I feel that logging in once a day is too often. If asked how often I “space,” I would deny it, I would lie.

Social-networking sites are not necessarily inappropriate or signify a level of immaturity, but some are definitely for specific demographics and people make it very clear which ones they use and which ones they wouldn’t be caught dead on.

MySpace caters to a young crowd from teenagers to people in their early thirties with an occasional mid-lifer here and there.

Those who mock MySpace would sooner give away their pet than delete their Facebook account.

Many professionals scoff at Facebook while logging onto LinkedIn twice a day. The shame isn’t in how often you use a site but which you use.

LinkedIn is a professional networking site, which, as described by the site, “summarizes your professional accomplishments. Your profile helps you find and be found by former colleagues, clients and partners. You can add more connections by inviting trusted contacts to join LinkedIn and connect to you.”

Sounds a lot more grown up than “Hey, like your pics. Add me!”

Just as I feel that my automobile misrepresents my age and status, I’m beginning to think that I need to upgrade to a more adult networking site. Since deleting my MySpace account and joining LinkedIn is a lot cheaper than a new $30,000 auto loan, I’ll start my transformation into a grown-up online. I guess that means I should send out a “I’m-Deleting-My-Page” Bulletin this afternoon.

BY MARIA UMANZOR

EDITOR

California’s education system is facing tough budget cuts, so while we wait for the fall semester, let’s focus on how wisely we can spend the summer time.

There’s only one week of class left before finals week starts. Despite the high pressure of doing well, many students wonder what they will do over two months.

Many students work full-time and earn extra money during summer. It’s the best time to get rid of stress that taking classes and working at the same time creates. Students can get on-campus jobs as work study and lab aides through City College’s job listing Web site www.ccsf.edu/jobs. Students should look for summer jobs and save money.

On the other hand, it’s recommended for students to take summer session classes. Budget cuts threaten to reduce lecture classes and some changes happened at City College.

According to Chancellor Don Griffin, of the 450 non-credit summer section offered this summer, 400 classes will be available in June and 50-60 in July. Non-credit ESL business application and transitional studies classes will be moved. However, if budget cut problems continue, “Summer 09 credit and non-credit session will be reduced drastically,” he said. Fortunately, there won’t be cuts on classes for the fall 08 semester. But still it’s important to take advantage of what’s available.

If you’re transferring next semester, use summer to get prepared for that transferring process. Whether you transfer to a four-year college within San Francisco, out of town or out of state, it’s always good to pull things together. Imagine finding out at the last minute that you forgot to send your transcripts, missed something in the application or didn’t declare your intent to register. Not good. Make sure you’re on the right track.

Internships give experience and will enrich your educational experience, plus it’s an excellent vehicle to accept or reject your major. When you pick major-related internships, you’re basically putting in practice what you learn in the classroom.

Getting ahead doesn’t harm anyone and even the little details are worth much more when it comes to your education, especially in difficult economic times.

No, it would be a disaster

BY MAAHUM CHAUDHRY
STAFF WRITER

As a frequent Muni rider, I know firsthand how Muni can be, with colorful Fast Passes to prove it. I’ve had my fair share of days of being soaked in the rain after waiting at the bus stop, only to watch my bus whiz by. I have dealt with the uncomfortable feeling of being pushed and shoved while trying to retain my balance. But I remind myself that taking public transportation is cheaper and better for the environment, so I try to grin and bear the ride. Because of the grievances just listed, I don’t think Muni rides should be made free, as Mayor Gavin Newsom hinted at last year.

If Muni were free, imagine how the larger crowds and reliability would be. The word “free” attracts everyone, and with so many people on a bus, things would be chaotic. Muni won’t be able to accommodate all their customers because they will still have the same number of buses running and won’t get money from fares to buy more.

Every Muni rider knows that with a crowded bus comes a slow ride. On numerous occasions I felt I could have reached my destination faster and more comfortably with my scooter from middle school. But I resist, trying to take full advantage of my wrinkly, damaged Fast Pass. With drivers often already grouchy enough with crowded buses and possibly lower wages, they would become ruder.

Just last year Muni introduced the environmentally friendly hybrid buses. With free Muni, many would be encouraged to take public transportation to helping reduce global warming. However, with free fare rides, there wouldn’t be enough funds to purchase more hybrid buses, which cost roughly $500,000 — approximately $150,000 more than the regular buses, according to sfmta.org.

Out of my love for Muni for taking students who can’t afford today’s gas prices to their various destinations, I think it is in the best interest of both Muni and for us faithful riders, Fast Pass handy, to keep Muni’s fares as they are.

Free fare is the best fare

BY LISKA KOENIG
STAFF WRITER

Taking Muni in San Francisco requires three things: patience, time and bus fare. How many times have you been late because you waited for a bus that never showed? How many times have you stared at the announcement board which read something like “Next bus 73 minutes,” despite the bus schedule stating that it should run every 10 minutes? How many times have you spent your last quarter to take the bus home? Muni’s shortcomings add unnecessary complications to our busy lives.

It’s time for payback — Muni fares need to be reduced 100 percent!

In February 2007 Mayor Gavin Newsom asked the Municipal Transportation Agency to examine a system-wide free-fare system. The additional cost of purchasing new equipment and hiring additional staff to prevent fare evasion was shown to be almost as costly as if Muni ran for free.

For more than two decades, commuters have been riding the buses in downtown Seattle free of charge from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. It’s difficult to understand why we can’t implement such a system here. Shouldn’t the effort to reduce our individual carbon footprints be rewarded? This is an opportunity for us to contribute to save the planet.

Buyers of hybrid cars get a tax break of up to $3,150, but Muni passengers get nothing but talk about an upcoming fare increase. (The $45 price of the Fast Pass that entitles riders to unlimited use within San Francisco, is rumored to be going up as much as 33 percent in the next couple of years.)

Gas prices in San Francisco are the highest in the country so think about what you could do with the $4.25 or more that you are spending for each gallon of gas.

Taking public transportation isn’t always fun, so people could use an incentive. Making Muni free to ride would not only take hundreds of thousands of cars off our already overcrowded city streets, but also greatly improve the quality of the air we breathe.

Nine trustee candidates have stepped forward

BY MARTHA VALLEJO
STAFF WRITER

San Francisco citizens will elect four candidates for the Community College Board of Trustees Nov. 4.

By April 24 there were nine candidates who filed documents at the City Department of Elections. Two of them were incumbents Milton Marks III and Rodel Rodis, intending to be reelected. It is assumed that incumbent Natalie Berg will do the same. Julio Ramos leaves his place to pursue his candidacy as Supervisor for District 11.

The board of trustees has a total of seven seats. Four of them are elected during presidential elections and three in off years. This year, the other candidates are marketing and sales consultant Roberto Figueroa, Michael Goldstein, Mary Hernandez, research analyst Chris Jackson, retired chief deputy sheriff Carl Koehler, attorney Steve Ngo and social worker and chief information officer Bruce Wolfe.

Mary Hernandez was elected to the San Francisco Board of Education in 1996 and 2000, and served as vice president in 1999 and president in 2000. She currently serves as a member of the Youth Law Center Board of Director. Hernandez is the mother of two children currently enrolled in middle and high school in San.

Carl Koehler was chief of police at the Police Department of City College in the Ocean campus.

“As a teacher at SF State, I understand the classroom dynamic,” Koehler said. “And as a peace officer with twenty-nine years of experience, I understand the importance of keeping the campuses safe so that students have a chance to experience the learning environment.”

For Steve Ngo his Vietnamese mother has been his motivation.

“I want to be an advocate for people like her,” Ngo said. “As the first in my family to graduate from college, I also want opportunities for other first generation college students. Basically, I know how education can transform lives for the better, and I want to make that power work for more people.”

After a severe work injury Bruce Wolfe went back to school. This is his second time running.

“I currently am in my fifth year serving on the Public Education Enrichment Fund Advisory Committee that creates the annual budget for spending voter approved funding of nearly $450 million for public schools,” Wolfe said. “I could not have had better experience and popular education than from my years at City College to prepare me for this task. Now with far more experience into education budgeting and review of programs, I can bring back with my fellow colleagues on the board of trustees the accountability needed this time.”

In fact, possibly three incumbent trustees will be reelected leaving only one seat available. Regardless of who the new trustee will be the board faces big challenges adjusting matters to the inevitable budget cuts.

The deadline to register is Oct. 27. Candidates must be residents and registered to vote in the City and County of San Francisco. No employee of a community college district can be sworn into office unless he/she is a part-time teacher instructing one course per semester. There are no term limits for the Members of the Community College Board.

Education and profession are not subject to candidature. Whoever wants to try can just apply for it.

Nine trustee candidates have stepped forward

By Liska Koenig
STAFF WRITER

Industrial engineering major Diana Muñoz-Villanueva was re-elected as City College student trustee for 2008 – 2009, while political science major Joshua Nielsen was elected the new Associated Students President during elections for AS government on April 29 and 30.

Earning 431 of the 607 votes, Muñoz-Villanueva promised to advocate for more scholarships and tutoring in her next term. She knows that textbook prices burn into students’ financial resources and wants to reduce costs.

“I learned so much during this past year as a student trustee and feel I can really make a difference in the lives of students,” Muñoz-Villanueva said. “I spend about 25 to 30 hours per week in my role as a student trustee. Sometimes I’m at board meetings until 10 p.m. or longer.”

An item on Nielson’s agenda is the improvement of campus tours for new students.

“Students who are just getting started at City College need to know where to find their networks and communities. Tours should include places like the financial aid office, the Book loan program or where to find tutoring,” Nielsen said.

Nielsen would also like to see the building of student dorms after the parking area has been moved from the reservoir. This would be a way to find affordable housing for students just moving to San Francisco.
Candidate Chirag Dalibar lost, but has expressed interest in actively supporting Muñoz-Villanueva.

“There is enough work for two here and sometimes it makes sense to talk things over with somebody else,” he said. “We need to get together and do something, raise funds for student activities and form a true community.”

So far, the position of a second student trustee has not been approved.

“I encourage students to think about their choices and to ensure that their representation by a student trustee is not only helpful to them, but important for the college as a whole,” Associate Dean of Student Activities Skip Fotch said.

BY BONTA HILL
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

City College’s Hall of Fame will be moved to the Wellness Center from its longtime home in the defunct South Gymnasium, according to head football coach George Rush.

Started in 1985, inductions to the hall were held every five years until 1995.

“The first hall of fame was in 1985, and we did inductions every five years,” said Rush. “To do it every two or three years might have watered the meaning of the hall of fame.”

Because no inductions have been made in 13 years, the athletic department planned to wait until the Wellness Center had been built to rekindle the hall of fame.

Now that the Wellness Center has been built, talks have stalled about the Hall of Fame.

“Due to all the moving and coaches getting their offices together, we as a program have kind of forgot about it,” said Dan Hayes, physical education department chair.

“The faculty, the coaches, and the administration all have to get together and decide on how to get the Hall of Fame back up and running,” Hayes added. “Hopefully in 2010 we can kind of get it going again, and have a nice ceremony.”

Chauncey David-Jacobs holds second-fastest time in the 200m.JENNIFER NICHOLS / GUARDSMAN

BY TJ Johnson

Staff Writer

When City College sprinter Chauncey David-Jacobs ran the 200m in 23.96 seconds at the Coast Conference Championships at Monterey on April 26, she again became the second-fastest among junior college women to run the 200m.

When her husband Kenneth Smith — himself a track coach who watched from the stands — broke the news, that sweetened it. She improved from 23.97 at the Johnny Mathis Invitational in San Francisco two weeks prior, and had improved more this time.

“My husband was happy and he told me he already knew I could run that time and he believes I will go faster,” David-Jacobs said.

The 20-year-old freshman’s family carries an athletic tradition. David-Jacobs’ father played football. Her brother runs track at Phillip Burton High School, her alma mater. David-Jacobs herself demonstrated speed when she was younger.

But it was her mother, Silvia David, who inspired her to run track. David-Jacobs watched videos of her mother, a police officer, running in competitions against her fellow cops.

Fearing her daughter would burn out at an early age, David kept her from competing until her freshman year in high school.

“She waited until I got in high school when it would be fun and fresh for me,” David-Jacobs said.

David-Jacobs balances sports and scholastics with Smith’s help. David-Jacobs said Smith acted as a mentor through her high school years, and he still plays that role.

“Mainly I keep (Chauncey) motivated and keep her head in the books and support her the best I can,” Smith said.

David-Jacobs and Smith were children when they met, but the relationship didn’t blossom until after she moved to Sacramento. In 2006, she told Smith she would like to marry someone like him. Three months later they married at San Francisco City Hall.

“I never believed in love at first sight until I met Kenneth,” she said. “I do believe we had that connection.”

A typical day for David-Jacobs includes going to morning classes, taking a midday break, practicing on the track from 1 to 3 p.m. and helping Smith coach youth track.

David-Jacobs also volunteers at her father-in-law’s bingo parlor and at a day care center her mother now runs. She also finds time for Smith’s children, Alyse, 10, and Zymarie, 2.

“It’s not that hard because I love track and I love my family,” David-Jacobs said.

Her training regimen varies with the time of year. In the off-season — September to December — David-Jacobs trains with weights for strength and stamina. The rest of the year is dedicated to running and fewer gym workouts.

Coach Doug Owyang lauds David-Jacobs’ work ethic.

“She has a mentality and will to succeed that carries over to her teammates,” Owyang said.

David-Jacobs also runs the 4×100m and 4×400m relays.

“We all get along very well,” David-Jacobs said of relay partners, Tasha Mizel, LaShannda Worthy and Leona Shum. “We love to run track, it all works out.”

Next semester, David-Jacobs will transfer to University of Nevada-Las Vegas on a track scholarship, and she hopes to earn a Master of Social Work.

“I’m still trying to feel around (which specialty),” she said.

Like any other parent, David-Jacobs wishes to see her stepchildren follow in her footsteps, or rather her running strides.

“I’m not going to force them to run, but definitely I want them to be out there,” she said. “If they like it, then I would love it. But if not, they could take up any sport.”

Matt Ko pitched nine innings, giving up only two-earned runs. MICHAEL P. SMITH / GUARDSMAN

Sophomore pitcher Matt Ko pitched his final game for City College baseball in stellar fashion, allowing only two earned runs in nine innings as the Rams defeated Canada College 6-4 at Sunberg field in Balboa park on April 29.

“I knew this was my last game for City and I had to go balls out,” Ko said.

By the top of the third inning, Ko (5-5, 4.65) established control of his fastball and curveball, foiling Canada batters into groundouts and flyouts while holding the Canada Colts to four scoreless innings in his third complete game this spring.

Right fielder Matt Armstrong gave the Rams the early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning with a sacrifice groundout that allowed third baseman Nicholas Fabian to score from third after Fabian stole second base on a first-pitch strike and advanced to third base on a 2-2 wild pitch.

With third baseman Andrew Ontai (.296) advancing to second base on another wild pitch in the bottom of the fourth inning, sophomore catcher Galen Volpondesta smashed a high fastball into the left-center gap for a one-out RBI double that gave the Rams a two run advantage. Volpondesta went 3-4 with three RBIs in his last game at Balboa Park.

“The pitcher kept trying to throw fastballs inside on me,” Volpondesta said. “I was seeing the ball really good and making adjustments. We have not beaten Canada all last year and this year, so it was good to get this monkey off our back.

”With a 3-0 lead in the top of the fifth inning, Ko’s arm appeared to be tiring after he walked the first two Canada batters. After a sacrifice fly put Canada on the board and with runners on second and third base, Ko left a slider across the plate. The pitch was driven hard to the deep left-field alley. The runners scored, and the three-run lead was lost.

Canada (24-12-1, 12-10) tied the game in the seventh inning, as Ko showed clear signs of fatigue. A one-out RBI single tied the game 4-4 and left runners on second and third base with one out. Second baseman Ryan Silver made a fully extended 10-foot leap to snag a clothesline shot that seemed headed for the right-center alley and tagged out the second base runner for an impressive double play to end the inning.

“It was his last game of his career here,” coach John Vanoncini said of Ko, “and I wanted to give him a shot at his third complete game of the season. I knew he could handle the pressure with runners on base. I knew he could finish strong in the last innings.